Sony just announced the Sony a99II camera at Photokina 2016! This 42MP A-mount SLT camera marks the tenth anniversary of the alpha series. It features 5-axis image stabilization and 4K photo with no pixel binning.
Sony a99II ($3,199.95) can shoot up at 12 frames per second with AF/AE tracking. It has 79 AF points on its dedicated PDAF sensor, which work in conjunction with 399 on-sensor PDAF points that work in conjunction to provide ‘Hybrid Cross AF points.’ The a99II focus system is able to focus down to -4EV.
Sony a99II’s 5-axis image stabilization is rated to 4.5EV in CIPA testing. The body is down in size to that of the Sony a77II. The camera’s sensor uses Back-Illuminated Sensor CMOS technology with copper wiring for ultra-fast readout. The camera also has a newly-developed front-end LSI Processor to cope with the speed of the sensor.
It can capture 4K UHD video from the full sensor width or 1.8x over-sampled 4K video in Super35 mode. Sony 99II includes tethering options and twin card slots to appeal to professional users. And in great news to many users, the menu has also been revised with color-coding to make navigation easier.
Highlights:
• 42MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor
• BIONZ X Image Processor & Front-End LSI
• Internal UHD 4K Video & S-Log3 Gamma
• S&Q Motion in Full HD from 1-120 fps
• 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization
• Hybrid Phase Detection AF System
• 0.5″ 2.36M-Dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF
• 3.0″ 1,228.8k-Dot Tilting LCD Monitor
• ISO 102,400 and 12 fps Shooting with AF
• Dual SD Card Slots; 14-Bit Raw Output
press text
COLOGNE, Germany, Sept. 19, 2016 – Sony Electronics, a worldwide leader in digital imaging and the world’s largest image sensor manufacturer, has today introduced their new flagship A-mount camera, the A99 II.
Reaffirming Sony’s commitment to produce industry leading A-mount cameras, the impressive new camera combines the best of many of their latest digital imaging innovations including a new Hybrid Phase Detection AF system with exclusive Sony A-mount features such as Translucent Mirror Technology. The result is a supremely specified, professional level camera that will be appealing to a variety of professional and enthusiast photographers.
“We are continuing to innovate with each new camera body, lens and accessory that we bring to market, offering compelling choices to both existing and prospective users of the Sony alpha system” said Neal Manowitz, Vice President of Digital Imaging at Sony Electronics. “With the A99 II, we’re delivering an industry-leading level of performance to A-mount owners and enthusiasts. Its powerful combination of speed and resolution is simply unmatched in today’s market.”
Redefining Autofocus and Speed
The new A99 II camera is Sony’s first full-frame camera to feature the acclaimed 4D Focus system, bringing a supreme level of AF performance to Sony’s A-mount line-up. The Hybrid Phase Detection AF system is enabled by combining a precision 79-point dedicated phase detection AF sensor with 399 focal plane phase detection AF points- to produce a 79 hybrid cross AF point array. This enables incredibly precise autofocus performance and advanced subject tracking of any high-speed moving objects across the frame. In addition Translucent Mirror Technology, with no moving mirror, ensures steady, continuous AF operation and live image preview during both still image and video shooting. The precision AF system also performs exceptionally in low-light conditions, as it will function properly in brightness levels as low as EV-45 and in dark locations where most other cameras struggle.
In addition to its advanced autofocusing, the A99 II has been designed to allow for high resolution, continuous shooting at high frame rates. The camera features a new front-end LSI that works with the image sensor, BIONZ X image processing engine and a newly designed shutter unit to enable continuous shooting at impressive speeds of up to 12fps with AF/AE tracking. Thanks to a large buffer, these shots can be viewed immediately after shooting, even when in high-speed continuous shooting mode. Additionally, if these high-speed shots are being taken indoors under artificial lighting, the camera can automatically detect flicker and time the shutter accordingly to minimize its effect on the resulting images.
The new A99 II also has the ability to deliver continuous live shooting at up to 8 fps with AF/AE tracking and minimal display lag thanks to overall improvements in the EVF algorithm. This offers photographers a shooting experience that closely mimics that of an optical viewfinder, while still offering all of the benefits of an electronic viewfinder including a live preview of exposure, white balance and several other camera settings. This continuous live view shooting can be set in 3 stages to match a variety of subjects: 8 fps, 6 fps and 4 fps.
Pixel Power
The back-illuminated full-frame 42.4MP Exmor R CMOS sensor in the new A99 II model features a gapless-on-chip design that allows for fast readout of large volumes of data and maximizes light gathering ability. The net result is very high sensitivity with low noise, wide dynamic range and 42.4MP resolution across an ISO range of 100-25600, expandable to ISO 50 – 102,400.
The new camera has also been designed without an optical low-pass filter, ensuring that all of the finest natural details and textures can be captured with unprecedented depth and realism. Both compressed and uncompressed RAW files are readily available based on user preferences.
5-axis SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization
Sony has designed a new in-body 5 axis image stabilization system for A-mount cameras that debuts for the first time in the A99 II model. Having proven to be incredibly popular in the a7 II series of cameras, this five axis system effectively detects and compensates for movement in all axes including X and Y, pitch and yaw and camera roll, and ensures that all captured content is crisp and blur-free. The new stabilization system provides a shutter speed advantage of 4.5 steps, ensuring the full potential of the 42.4MP sensor can be realized. Also, with a simple half press of the shutter button, the effect of this the image stabilization can be monitored in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen, allowing framing and focus to be accurately checked and continually monitored.
Improved Design and Operability
Based upon feedback from professional users, the design of new A99 II has noticeably evolved compared to its predecessor. The new model is 8% smaller than the original A99 and features a newly designed grip, magnesium alloy body, dual SD card slots and dust and moisture resistance.
The A99 II also features a new shutter unit that has an estimated life of more than 300,000 operations, as well as an XGA OLED Tru-finder with a ZEISS T* Coating that offers a powerful 0.78x magnification and delivers outstanding clarify from corner to corner. The viewfinder also has a fluorine coating on the outer lens to prevent fingerprints, dust, water, oil and dirt from sticking, ensuring a clear view.
The silent Multi Controller introduced in the original A99 has been improved as well, as it now offers a click-stop ON/OFF switch in addition to allowing control of aperture, shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, AF area, AF mode and other settings. The A99 II also offers location data acquisition via a Bluetooth connection to a compatible mobile device and an updated menu structure to deliver a smoother navigational experience.
Movie Magic
For the first time in a Sony A-mount camera, the A99 II has the ability to record 4K video internally16 with full pixel readout and no pixel binning through usage of the professional friendly XAVC S format. The camera is capable of recording high quality footage at 100Mbps for 4K recording, and utilizing the full width of the large, full-frame image sensor in doing so. It also offers a new “Slow and Quick” mode (S&Q) that supports both slow motion and quick motion. In this mode, frame rates from 1 fps to 120 fps can be selected in 8 steps for up to 60x quick motion and 5x slow motion recording.
A host of other features for professional movie production workflow are also included in the A99 II such as picture profiles, time code and clean HDMI output as well as gamma assist for real time S-Log monitoring and a zebra mode for easier exposure adjustment. S-Log3 and S-Log2 gamma are both included as well.
Pricing and Availability
The Sony a99 II full-frame interchangeable lens camera will ship this November to authorized Sony retailers throughout North America and will be sold for about $3,200 US and $4,000 CA.
17 thoughts on “Sony Announces 42mp a99II camera!!!”
Long time A77 user and A99 user. Didn’t upgrade to the A77ii because I was waiting for the A99ii… a wait that has finally delivered(or will deliver on Nov 30th). It’s like Sony has been testing tech out on the e/fe mount platform and now has unified all of that on the a-mount A99ii. It’s like the xmas wishlist getting fulfilled.
Can’t wait to get one in my hands to do some shooting.
Side note, major respect for the E/FE mount A6K and A7* lines. But the smaller size of the bodies never suited my somewhat larger hands. The only saving grace of the A6K, which I own, is that I normally have very light lenses on it. Otherwise, it would cause my hand to cramp up. 🙁 I kept the A99 since it fits like a glove and is a joy to shoot with. With the A99ii’s spec upgrades, especially the AF/FPS/EV some of those darker location shots will yield higher successes!
I suppose that’s one way to look at it. The truth is that 9-series A-mount has always been a 4-year product cycle (just like other top-end DSLRs), but in Sony’s case, a LOT of new tech has been released in the last 4 years! Much of it and more has gone into this camera!!!
Well, yes, “always” because there was only ONE cycle (a900 to A99) prior to this…
Same is true of a700 > a77 > a77 II, 3-4 year product cycle, just like high-end Canikons…
Brian,
The metal housing should not be a problem for GPS, it isn’t for mobile phones. It just needs an aerial outside the case. The A99 also had housing. I don’t know why Sony wont include GPS other than the high battery drain theses cameras have not helped by the small battery size. I use my A7ii for surveys on Oil and Gas plants so having a built in GPS would be great as I am not allowed to take a mobile phone onto the plant due to the fire safety risk.
Agreed, it makes no sense. The first gen A99 and A77 both had GPS, and they had metal (magnesium) housing. And if one doesn’t want to drain the battery by using it, they can simply turn the GPS feature off.
Sony added more metal to a99 II than previous A-mount cameras to make the body stronger. I’d take a stronger camera over GPS in a heartbeat.
Yeah, but was there really a problem with the strength/durability of the previous bodies? Mine are still ticking… At some point you have to look at what you’re gaining over what you’re losing. Plus, Canon has pretty rugged bodies, and manages to still include GPS. They should at least offer an add-on GPS tagging unit (like Nikon does) if they’re not going to include it in the body. It’s not really a huge issue for me personally, as I don’t make a lot of use of it anyway, but a lot of landscape and wildlife photographers today do use it and expect that functionality in today’s cameras. It’s not exactly new technology anymore, and Sony offered it before. I think it’s just a curious omission, given how Sony pretty much leads on the camera technology in most other respects (IMO).
Brian,
On a completely separate note, I’m curious, do you think you’ll make much use of this new camera, or are you pretty much solely over to E-mount now? Do you see any advantages of this for the type of work you do?
I could definitely imagine using it for sports.
Pre-ordering today. I use the a7rii with LAEA3+Sony 500mm-f/4 for wildlife, but it has limitations … not all AF modes supported, Sony teleconverters not supported, AF not as fast as with native a-mount (a77ii for example).
Seems like the a99ii solves all that, AND you get the clarity and low-light/high-iso performance of the full-frame sensor.
I can hardly wait!
Sony a99 II is gonna be a great camera for that!
Hi and thanks for all you do for the Sony brand Brian.
Do you know if Sony has included MFNR in the new 99 II ?
You’re welcome Capt Bob. Are you referring to Handheld Twilight? If so I believe that’s still an option in Scene Selection shooting mode. Don’t have a body to confirm but that’s where it oughta be.
Thanks for all the info. This article pushed me to preorder. I have all A-mount glass aside from one emount (which is gonna be sold along with the A7ii). I would have liked to see an E body with faster FPS raw, 2 SD slots, and bigger battery, but i came to the conclusion that this will prob be out of my budget when it finally arrives. I’m glad Sony released everything I wanted to be compatible with my current lens lineup.
Not sure if you have confirmed purchasing this Brian, but I look forward to your articles in order to fully utilize this new body.
Hi there, I’ve only recently begun being interested in photography again, and I recall my fondness for Sony. I have been debating over going with the a-mount or the e-mount series. I generally love big bodied cameras, but the e-mount series just seems to have much more lenses available to them, and it seems like it will only develop.
My question is, with the a99ii just coming out, is there reason to believe that Sony will continue to produce more a-mount lenses? Also, what are the a-mount lenses compared to the e-mount lenses?
The Sony A-Mount lens line-up is already fairly complete. While it’s always possible that you may see a few new lenses, I think Sony is understandibly more focused on rounding put their FE lens line-up.